Firkins closes bakery but keeps shops

20 May, 2011

Page 4

Firkins Bakery has closed its production bakery in Blacklake, West Bromwich, with more than 40 workers made redundant, but its 33 shops will stay open.

Newbridge Bakery (Produc-tions), which owns the firm's bakery, has been placed into liquidation. Firkins director Ian Bolderston said: "Unfortunately due to rising commodity and energy prices over the last nine months we have been unable to sustain the level of profitability needed to maintain and develop the bakery site."

The firm's shops are unaffected by the bakery's closure and continue to trade. They will now be supplied by craft baker Oliver Adams, based in Northampton.